{"election_id":"local.sandwell.2026-05-07","tmp_election_id":null,"election_title":"Sandwell local election","poll_open_date":"2026-05-07","election_type":{"name":"Local elections","election_type":"local"},"election_subtype":null,"organisation":{"url":"http://elections.democracyclub.org.uk/api/organisations/local-authority/SAW/1974-04-01/","official_identifier":"SAW","organisation_type":"local-authority","organisation_subtype":"MD","official_name":"Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council","common_name":"Sandwell","slug":"sandwell","territory_code":"ENG","election_name":"Sandwell local election","start_date":"1974-04-01","end_date":null,"created":"1974-04-01T00:00:00Z","modified":"2021-10-11T14:59:26.370579Z"},"group":"local.2026-05-07","group_type":"organisation","identifier_type":"organisation","children":["local.sandwell.bearwood.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.blackheath.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.bristnall.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.charlemont-grove-vale.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.cradley-heath-old-hill.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.friar-park-stone-cross.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.great-barr-tamebridge-yew-tree.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.great-bridge.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.greets-green-lyng.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.hateley-heath.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.hill-top.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.langley.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.newton-valley.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.oldbury.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.old-warley.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.princes-end.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.rowley.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.smethwick.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.soho-victoria.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.st-pauls.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.tipton-green.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.tividale.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.wednesbury.2026-05-07","local.sandwell.west-bromwich-central.2026-05-07"],"elected_role":"Local Councillor","seats_contested":null,"division":null,"voting_system":{"name":"First-past-the-post","wikipedia_url":"https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-past-the-post_voting","description":"A first-past-the-post (abbreviated FPTP, 1stP, 1PTP or FPP) or winner-takes-all election is one that is won by the candidate receiving more votes than any others.","uses_party_lists":false,"slug":"FPTP"},"requires_voter_id":null,"current":true,"explanation":"This is an election for **metropolitan borough councillors**. \r\n\r\nCouncillors represent the people of their ward on the council. Councillors are elected for four-year terms. Most wards are represented by more than one councillor, which is why you may have more than one vote.\r\n\r\nMetropolitan borough councils are responsible for many different services, including:\r\n\r\n * Child and adult social care\r\n * Schools and education\r\n * Rubbish collection and recycling\r\n * Housing and planning\r\n * Libraries and museums\r\n * Roads and pavements\r\n * Sports facilities and public parks\r\n\r\nCouncils are funded by a combination of council tax, business rates, and grants from the UK government. Councillors are not paid a salary, but they do receive financial compensation and expenses to cover their time and travel commitments.\r\n\r\n[**Learn more about English local government from New Local.**](https://www.newlocal.org.uk/articles/local-government-explained-part-2-what-do-councils-do/)","metadata":null,"deleted":false,"cancelled":false,"cancellation_reason":null,"replaces":null,"replaced_by":null,"by_election_reason":"","tags":{},"created":"2025-12-16T15:36:40.884562Z","modified":"2026-02-11T10:53:25.114352Z"}